Legacy of Unity: City of Gadsden comes together to honor King

Music, laughter and a message of unity filled Convention Hall on Monday night as the city of Gadsden and WMGJ radio hosted the 28th annual Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

By John DavidsonTimes Staff Writer

Music, laughter and a message of unity filled Convention Hall on Monday night as the city of Gadsden and WMGJ radio hosted the 28th annual Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.Master of Ceremonies Fred Zackery drove home the message of unity, linking each speaker and musician throughout the evening. State, county and local officials, as well as local pastors, were on hand to celebrate King’s life.The event began with a slideshow of photos of King, showing some of the more famous images of the civil rights leader as well as some more candid shots and other photos of protesters and marchers during the civil rights movement. After the digital journey, the music started.The crowd joined in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and then Doug Williams, a gospel singer from Smithdale, Miss., belted out his song “Still Here” that got the crowd on their feet, clapping and praising God. He was followed by the Spiritualaires of Gadsden, who performed two songs.The keynote speaker was Sen. Quinton Ross Jr., D-Montgomery, who was introduced by Attalla Mayor Larry Means. The two spoke of the importance of their friendship through their 2011 indictment and eventual acquittal on corruption charges related to bingo, before Ross got into the meat of his message — again, unity.Ross said he was never old enough to know about King beyond what he read in books and what people told him, but he was eternally grateful for what the civil rights leader had done for him. He said that without King’s struggle for equality, he never would have been able to be where he is today as an Alabama state senator. He called King a visionary who pointed out that each day of our lives is an opportunity.Ross did not mince words, though, when he spoke about that which needs to be done to continue King’s legacy. He said America has come a long way since the March on Washington more than 50 years ago, but still has a lot of work left to do to fully realize King’s goals.He compared the United States to the human body and compared its people to the immune system, stating that both fight off infection. He said the country has overcome infections in the past such as slavery, segregation and black disenfranchisement through the united response of its immune system, its people.“Our nation was coding in the emergency room with all the infections running through its veins,” Ross said. “Some of those infections have been cured; some have been suppressed.”Ross said that same response, one of a united nation, will help fix the continuing problems of the economy, racism and bigotry. He said the only thing needed is unity, and that the American people must focus on what binds us together as opposed to what sets us apart. He said hate and violence is not natural, but learned.He pointed to children to emphasize this point. He said children do not see anything in each other beyond someone whose company they can enjoy, someone to play with. He said if America follows the example of its children, it would make a huge difference.“They will squabble and fight,” Ross said. “But in the end, they end up wanting to hug each other and go back to playing.”

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